Power plant



Jan. 15, 1935. J. Q. FlNFRocK 988036' POWER PLANT Filed April 30, 1954 6 Sheets-Sheet l Jan. 15, 1935. 1. Q. FINI-"ROCK POWER PLANT Filed April 50, 1.934 6 Sheets-Sheet 2 Ill! Attorney 5 Jan. 15, 1935. J. Q. s--lNx--l-'eocxv POWER PLANT Filed April 30, 1934 6 Sheets-Sheet Inventor Jaim Q Fz'nfrock AIQN Attorney;

Jan. 15, 1935. .1. Q. FlNFRocK POWER PLANT Filed April 30, 1934 Inventor Jaim Q. Fz'mrocif ltomey 5 Jan. 1K5, 1935. J. Q. Fmr-'ROCK POWER PLANT Filed April 50, 1934 6 Sheets-Sheet 5 Illa.

Jaim Q. lnfrocr Attorney 5 Jan. l5, 1935. J. Q, FINFROCK POWER PLANT Filed April 30, 1934 6 Sheeis-Sheet 6 -rentar Attorney 5 Patented Jan. 15, 1935 UNITED STATES POWER PLANT John Q. Finfrock, Westwood, Los Angeles, Calif. assigner to National Postal Meter Company, Calif., a corporation of California Los Angeles,

Application April 30, 1934, Serial No. 723,094

26 Claims.

This invention relates to a power plant, in which there is incorporated an automatic feeding mechanism for envelopes or other articles, an envelope moistener, and 'appropriate control mechanisms. The power plant is also arranged to have coupled thereto an attachment for the printing of postage indicia upon mail matter, for printing signatures upon checks or a letter opening attachment, or other types or forms of devices. And more particularly, the invention relates to improvements in the control mechanisms, as well as in other improvements, new features and new combinations.

A number of the elements incorporated in the power plant are illustrated and described in United States Letters Patent and, therefore, are not claimed herein. In this regard, it will be pointed out that the adjustable trip `mechanism is disclosed in the Allen Patent No. 1,809,264, the clutch and clutch control mechanism in the Ryan Patents Nos. 1,811,028, 1,877,694, and 1,930,943, the moistener in the Ryan Patents Nos. 1,894,427 and 1,927,806, while'the stripper mechanism for the feed hopper is disclosed in the Hiller Patent No. 1,955,066.

Some of the above patented elements are incorporated in the power plant of this invention with substantially no change, while others have been changed or added to for the accomplishment of additional and/ or new results.

It is one of the principal objects of this invention to produce a. power plant which will function reliably, accurately and with dispatch.

A further object is to provide the feed conveyor truck holder with a control system so arranged that when the holder is raised to release the truck this control system will act to automatically disengage the conveyor driving means and will also act to release the hand tripping mechanism for throwing the attachment driving clutch into operation; and to provide a releasable locking means for locking the holder in its raised position, which locking means will be automatically released upon aga-in raising the holder prior to lowering it into holding engagement with the truck. The return movement of the holder acting through its associated control system for reengaging the conveyor driving means and for rendering inoperative the attachment clutch hand-tripping mechanism.

A further object is to arrange for locking the attachment in its operative position on the power plant and forv rendering inoperative any of the several means for placing attachment driving clutch into operation until' after the attachment has been securely locked in place.

The invention also provides means for placing the attachment clutch into operation by the action of the articles1 carried by the feed conveyor and preferably arranged for convenient adjustment whereby the article may come to rest at one or more definitely different positions in the attachment.

Other objects and advantages of the invention will become apparent as the nature of the same is more fully understood from the following description and accompanying drawings, wherein is set forth what is now considered to be a preferred embodiment. It should be understood, however, that this particular embodiment of the invention is chosen principally for the purpose of exempliflcation, and that variations therefrom in details of construction or arrangement of the parts may accordingly be effected, and yet remain within the spirit and scope of the invention as the same is set forth in the appended claims.

In the drawings:

Figure 1 illustrates a top plan view of the power plant of this invention, from which the enclosing cover has been removed in order to more clearly show the driving means, as well as certain portions of the control system.

Figure 2 illustrates a front end sectional view taken substantially in the plane of line II-II of Figure 1. l

Figure 3 illustrates a sectional view taken substantially in the plane of line III-III of Figure 1.

Figure 4 illustrates a sectional vew taken substantially in the plane of line IV-IV of Figure 3.

Figure 5 illustrates a sectional view taken substantially in the plane of line V-V of Figure 3.

Figure 6 illustrates a sectional view taken substantially in the plane of line VI-VI of Fig. 1.

Figure 7 illustrates a sectional view taken substantially in the plane of line VII-VII of Fig. l.

Figure 8 illustrates a fragmental sectional view taken substantially in the plane of line VIII-VIII of Fig. 6.

Figure 9 illustrates a fragmental sectional view taken substantially in the plane of line IX-IX of Fig. 6.

Figure 10, Sheet 2, illustrates a fragmental sectional view for showing the hand lever for epresing the article engaging end of the attachment clutch tripping finger.

Figure 11 illustrates a view similar to Fig. 10, but showing the hand lever after it has been actuated to depress the attachment clutch triplping finger clear of articles carried by the conveyor.

Figure 12 is a fragmental view illustrating the conveyor truck holding means and the releasable locking means therefor.

Figure 13 illustrates a sectional view taken substantially in the plane of line XIII-XIII of Fig. 12.

Figure 14 illustrates a sectional view taken substantially in the plane of line XIV-XIV of Fig. 14.

In the preferred form of the invention. as

illustrated in the drawings, it is desirable to arrange the power plant 20 so that an appropriate attachment 21 may be easily mounted thereon or removed therefrom, and when so mounted to be automatically coupled to the driving mechanism of the power plant. In this way, a single power plant may be employed to actu.- ate in turn many different attachments, as for example, a. postage printing or a check signing attachment, or other appropriate forms of devices, none of which by themselves form a part of this invention and, therefore, will not be described in detail nor claimed.

For convenience, an envelope or article receiving hopper 22 may be permanently mounted on the power plant, from which the envelopes 23 :may be withdrawn, one at a time, and fed to the attachment for action thereon, by a feed conveyor means 24. The feed conveyor may be likewise permanently mounted on the power plant.

In order to seal the envelopes during their passage through the machine, a. flap moistening device 25 may be mounted on Vthe power plant p in position to wet the flaps of the envelopes as they are conveyed from the hopper to the attachment. It will be understood that the machine may vbe used as an envelope sealer, in which case the attachment may be removed from the power` plant or if left coupled to the power plant prevented from being placed into operation by means later to be described. And, further, when operating on post cards, checks or other articles which do not need to be sealed, the sealer may be actuated to an inactive position.

To render the machine adaptable to a broad range of uses, the conveyor feed means may be easily and conveniently disconnected and the articles to be acted upon may be manually presented to the attachment, in which case a hand-tripping lever 26 may be manually actuated for placing the attachment driving clutch into operation.

A more detailed description of the vmachine and its mode of operation will now be presented.

Power plant The power plant 2o is preferably self-contained and for stability includes a base casting 27 provided with suitable bosses, brackets and bearings for supporting the several parts. Albng the rear edge of the base casting is suitably fastened the rear casing wall 28, to which some of the operating mechanisms are fastened, while along the outer edge of this wall there is provided a plurality of spaced inwardly directed pins 29 for supporting a cover 30 (Figs. l, 3 and 6). The base casting 27 at its lower right-hand corner is provided with a raised attachment platform 31, upon which a suitable attachment may be mounted. Around this platform toward the inner side of the machine are mounted plates 32 and 33 (Figs 13, 4, 6). The plate 33 along its top edge is of the same contour'as the adjacent portion of the rear wall 23 and is likewise provided with pins 29 to support that portion of coverA 3o which moulds thereover. The plate 32 is provided with a key-loot. 3d (Figs. l and 3) for locking the cover 30 onto the base casting in order to prevent unauthorized tampering with the operating parts of the machine. To the front face of the base casting is fastened a front wall 35 (Figs. 1, 2, 3), which is provided with a number of cover supporting pins 29 (Fig. d). The cover 30 is fastened along the left-hand edge of the base casting, as by means of screws 30a,

and from this point follows the contour of the front and rear walls and is supported along these walls by pins 29. The cover follows the outline of the attachment platform plates 32 and 33 and is formed as at 36 (Fig. 4) to t into the offset upper edge of wall 32. The cover is locked to wall 32 by means of locking tongue 37 carried by the cover which cooperates with the key lock 34. The cover from this point follows the contour of the rear wall 28 and plate 33, until finally it terminates along the other edge of the base casting to which it is secured by screws 30b (Fig. 7)

To remove the cover the fastening screws 30 and 30D should be removed then, by removing the attachment, providing one is mounted upon the machine, access may be had to the key-hole of lock 34, which key-hole opens through plate 32 and as soon as the lock is opened by the proper key the cover may be easily lifted from the machine.

The rear and front walls 28 and 35 may be braced by cross-rods 38 (Fig. l), and the rear Walland plate 33 may be braced by cross-rod 38a.

The remaining description of the power plant will be given along with the description of the driving mechanism and other parts of the machine.

The driving mechanism The driving mechanism may receive its power from an electric motor 39 and may include a jack shaft 40, arranged to be driven by the motor by means of the motor pulley 4l, belt 42, and jack shaft pulley 43.

.An attachment driving shaft 44 is journaledl in bearing 45 carried by the rear Wall 28 and bearing 46 carried by plate 33. The shaft does not extend through the rear wall, but does extend through plate 33, and upon this projecting end there is mounted a driving portion 47 of the attachment coupling 48 of any suitable type, which may be easily separated to facilitate the removal Y or placing of the attachment on the machine.

vattachment clutch is maintained normally disengaged by means later to be described. This clutch may be of the type illustrated and described in the Ryan Patents Nos. 1,811,028 and 1,877,694v

and, therefore, need not be described in detail here. It will be understood that pulley portion i) of this clutch is journaled upon the attachment shaft 44, while the clutch band 51 carried by a suitable arm means 52 is securely keyed to this shaft, whereby when the band is permitted to eieand into engagement with the clutching surface of the pulley, it will be rotated thereby until released after the completion of a single revolution. I'he action of the clutch band is controlled by a spring weighted lever 53. The clutch pulley 5i) is continuously driven from the jack-shaft, as by means of the belt 54 playing around the small pulley 55. The ratio of the several pulleys is such as to drive the attachment at the proper speed for normal operation, but should it be desired to speed up or slow down the attachment, pulleys. of different ratios may be easily substituted for those shown. Thus far, the driving mechanism has been described up to the attachment connecting point, and now its connection with the article feeding conveyor will be described. Here, again, reference is directed to the two Ryan patents above-mentioned.

The jack shaft 40 is journaled at its rear end in bearing 56 carried by the rear wall 28 and in bearing 57 carried by the front wall 35. The

power from the jack shaft is transmitted through these two wheels (59 and 60) there is operatively mounted a rubber tired idler wheel 62, which may be brought into or out of engagement with the adjacent peripheries of the two wheels. When the idler wheel is brought into engagement with the two wheels, power is transmitted through this wheel from the driving wheel 59 to the driven wheel 60 and thus drive the feed conveyor. When the idlerrwheel is moved free of the two wheels, no power to drive the conveyor can be transmitted from one wheel to the next. The means for actuating the idlerwheel to or from engagement with the two wheels will be described later.

Article feeding conveyor means The article or envelope feeding conveyor means 24 in reality includes two serially arranged conveyors, each receiving their driving power from the same conveyor driving shaft 6l. The first or magazine conveyor 63 includes a broad pulley 64, located just below the discharge end of the envelope hopper 22 so as to engage the front end portion of the lowermost envelope of the stack of envelopes 23 placed therein, and in this way will act to serially feed envelopes from the hopper. The broad pulley 64 s journaled on shaft 65, which is supported at one end upon the front wall 35 of the power plant, while its opposite end is supported by a fabricated supporting bracket plate 66,(Figs. l, 3, 6 and 9), which bracket plate is fastened to the front portion of the power plant base casting 27 and extends for the full width thereof. The fabricated bracket plate 66 forms with the front wall 35 what may be termed a channel-way (Figs. 3, 6 and 9), through which channel-way the feed conveyors extend.

The broad pulley is provided with a central belt groove for the driving belt 67, while the other end of this belt plays around the driving pulley 68 fastened to the conveyor driving shaft 61. It may be observed in Fig. 3 that the driving pulley 68 is of a diameter somewhat less than the diameter of the broad pulley 64, since it is desirable to drive the first conveyor at a slower speed than that of the second conveyor for reasons later to be pointed'out.

The broad pulley 64 is about the width of a narrow envelope and has mounted adjacent Veach end thereof a serrated rubber tire 69 (Figs. l and 3) and is grooved to receive spaced conveyor belts 70. The other ends of these belts play around suitable pulleys journaled to turn freely upon the conveyor drive shaft 6l, whereby the rotation of the conveyor drive shaft will have no effect upon the turning of these pulleys, which turn at a speed slower than that of the shaft because they are of substantially the same diameter as the broadpulley to which they are connected by belts 70, and it will be remembered that the broad pulley is driven at a slower speed than that of the drive shaft.

The conveyor drive shaft 61 is journally supported inrbearing carried by the front wall 35 and the bracket plate 66.

The second or delivery conveyor 71 also makes use of the conveyor drive shaft 61 by having fastened thereto a rubber-tired conveyor Wheel 72 adjacent the power plant front wall 35 and conveyor belt pulley 73 fastened to the shaft adjacent the bracket plate 66.

The main conveyor belt 74 at one end travels around pulley 73, while its other end travels around the conveyor belt pulley 75, which pulley is operatively supported upon the bracket plate 66 at the discharge side of the machine, that is, at a point just beyond the operating zone of the attachment 21, and, due to this arrangement, articles which have been acted upon by the attachment will be ejected therefrom upon the next run of the conveyor. As may be noted in Fig. 2, the main conveyor belt 74 is of considerable length and to prevent it from sagging in the middle a supporting pulley 76 is provided. The supporting pulley may be fastened to shaft 77 operatively supported between front wall 35 and the bracket plate 68. A rubber-tired wheel 78 may be fastened upon shaft 77 adjacent the Ifront wall 35 and in alignment with the rubbertired wheel 72 of the conveyor drive shaft 61. The supporting pulley 76 will be driven by the conveyor belt and through shaft 77 will, in turn, drive the rubber-tired wheel 78. In this way, the rubber-tired wheel will not only act to assist the conveyor in directing and feeding the article or envelope into position for operation thereon by the attachment, but will also act to support the inner edge of the article being conveyed.

An articulated truck 80 is provided to ride upon the conveyor belt 74, and the rubber-tired wheels 72 and 78 to yieldingly hold the articles being fed down flatly onto the conveyor.

`The truck may include'two separate frames 81 and 82 hingedly connected, as at 83, to permit articulation of these frames about a horizontal axis to accommodate envelopes of varying thickness.

The front truck 8l is provided with a bearing box 84 (Fig. l) for rotatably supporting an axle 85, to the ends of which are fastened rubbertired wheels 86 and 87. By this construction, if one wheel turns the other must also turn, thereby insuring a more even and positive feeding of the articles.

'I'he rear truck 82 may be formed of a casting of more or less L shape (Fig. 1) to clearthe forward end of the attachment 21.

axle 88, to the ends of which are fastened the rubber-tired wheels 90 and 91. The casting may be provided with suitable openings for these wheels. In Figures 1 and 2 it may be noted that the truck wheels 90 and 91 lie directly over the conveyor belt supporting pulley 76 and the rubber-tired conveyor wheel 78. The narrow portion of the truck is provided with two rubbertired wheels 92 and 93. Wheels 86, 90, 92 and 93 all ride on the upper surface of the main conveyor belt 74, while wheels 87 and 91 ride on the perpheries of wheels 72 and 78, respectively.

Conveyor truck holding means 95 Provision may be made for yieldingly retaining the truck in its operative position on con- Adjacent the front end of this truck may be journaled anY veyor 71, which truck-holding means or holder, as it may be termed for short, may include a pair of spaced levers 96 and 97, each independently journaled upon opposite ends of holder shaft 98. The shaft 98 may be mounted upon the rear face of front wall 35, and suitable openings may be formed in the wall through which the forwardly projecting ends of the levers may extend.

The extreme forward end of each lever is bored to freely receive opposite ends of the holder handle 99, and xed to each end of this handle is a flanged engaging spool (Figs. 1, 2 and 3). The forward truck frame 81 is provided with bearing piece 101, While the rear truck frame 82 is provided with a similar bearing 102, against which the flanged engaging spools of the holder press to yieldingly force the truck into operative engagement with the conveyor. The flange portion of each spool lies adjacent the outer side face of their respective supporting bearing pieces to prevent movement of the truck along the conveyor, and as the bearing pieces are provided with semi-circular grooves into which the spools engage, movement of the truck transverse of the conveyor is also prevented and yet by lifting handle 99 the spools 100 with their flanges Will be lifted clear of the truck bearing pieces, whereupon the truck may be easily and quickly removed from the conveyor. This arrangement has the further advantage of allowing one or both of the truck frames to lift sumciently to permit envelopes of different thickness to be Afed through thev machine.

In order to yieldingly act upon the truck, the holder is provided with spring means, such as illustrated in Figures 1, 3 and 4. In these gures it will be noted that lever 96 is provided with a torsional spring 103, while the lever 97 is provided With a similar spring 104, and one end of each of these springs is held in any one of several adjusting notches formed in their respective brackets and 106 (Figs. 1, 3, 4), while the opposite end of each spring engages its respective lever.

Receiving hopper 22 An article receiving hopper is provided into which articles to be run through the machine are placed. During the operation of the machine the conveyor feed means will function to withdraw the articles placed in ther hopper, one at a time, and convey them through the machine.

This hopper includes a rear wall 107, an end wall 108, and a bottom plate 109, all fastened together and supported upon the power plant front wall 35 and bracket plate 66.

The hopper is provided with an adjustable side plate 111, which may be adjusted to accommodate the hopper to articles of different widths.

The receiving end of the feed conveyor enters the inner bottom end of the hopper through a suitable opening formed in this portion of the n hopper.

Patent No. 1,955,066 previously referred to, and as this particular device is not claimed herein it is believed unnecessary to describe the same in detail.

Envelope flap moistening device Z5 The moistening device includes a capillary tube (Figs. 1, 2 and 3), which is mounted for oscillation in a bearing bracket 121 fastened to the front face of the bracket plate 66. The outer end of the tube is provided with a handle piece 122, by means of which the capillary tube may be turned into position to engage and meisten the gummed under-surface of the ap of each envelope carried past the tube by the conveyor means or turned out of moistening position,"

whereby envelopes which have been previously sealed may be carried past without engaging the moistener.

A trough 123 (Figs. 2 and 3) is provided to catch any excess water which may drip from the capillary tube, and at its lower end is formed into a tube to receive one end of rubber hose 124, which discharges into the reservoir 125 of a second moistener 126. This second moistener is mounted on the power plant front wall 35 beneath the channel way formed by the bracket plate 66 by means of two spaced horizontal studs 127. The greater portion of the reservoir is closed by a cover 128, through one end of which project the upper ends of the capillary moistening brush 129, while the lower end of. the brush is loosely mounted in the reservoir. The reservoir cover adjacent the projecting end of the brush is provided with an envelope flap guide-Way 130, by means of which envelope flaps manually drawn along the reservoir cover will be guided into moisture receiving contact with the brush. The second moistener may be easily removed for cleaning the several parts thereof.

The envelope flap moistening device, which is associated with the feed conveyor is substantially like the moistener illustrated and described in detail in the Ryan Patents Nos. 1,894,427 and 1,927,806, and as the particular form of the moistener is not claimed herein further description of this feature is thought to be unnecessary.

Attachment 21 The power plant is provided with a suitable platform, upon which any one of a number of different attachments may be easily and quickly mounted or removed therefrom.

In the drawings, there is illustrated an attachment 21 of the printing press type, especially constructed for the printing of postage indicia upon mail matter. The particular attachment shown is equipped to print a postage denomination of 2, while other attachments may be equipped to print other denominations. It will be understood that the 2 attachment may be easily and quickly removed and a 3, 5, 8, or any other denomination printing attachment substituted therefor; also, that the attachment need not be limited to the printing of postage indicia but may be arranged to print signatures upon checks or other characters or figures. Different types of attachments may be used, as, for example, a check cancelling attachment for perforating the cancellation characteristics upon checks fed thereto. The particular form or type of attachment is not important to this invention.

It is important, however, that each of the attachments is provided with a pair of mounting feet 132 (Figs. 6 and 9), which accurately register in the locating holes 133 drilled through the attachment platform. As may be noted in Figure 6, the floor of platform 3l is not very thick and the projecting portion of each foot below the platform is-provided with an annular locking groove 134. An attachment positioning lock 135 is pivoted to the underside of the platform, as at 136, and has oppositely and outwardly extending arms, each of which is adapted to swing into the annular lockinggroove 134 and to thereby securely and accurately lock the selected attachment upon the power plant. For convenience in actuating the positioning lock 135, it may be provided with a handle 137, which extends a convenient distance beyond the side of the machine.

The rear end of each attachment is provided with a coupling member 138 of such type as to connect in driving engagement with the portion 47 of the attachment coupling 48 as the attachment is lowered into position on the power plant, whereby the act of placing the attachment onto the power plant will automatically connect the power plant driving mechanism with the attachment drive.

It may be observed from Figs. 1, 2, 3 and 6 that the forward end of the attachment overlies a portion of the article feed conveyor means, whereby articles, in this instance mail matter, carried along by the conveyor will be brought into position for the attachment to print postage indicia thereon, and also that the conveyor continues on past the attachment to eject the articles from the machine after being acted on by the attachment.

The particular attachment shown is arranged to print the usual date circle 139, as well as the postage indicia 140. In those instances, where it is desirable to print more than one stamp upon the same envelope, the date circle printing means may be rendered inoperative by actuating a little hand knob 141 (Figs. 1 and 2) to the right, as clearly indicated on the front face of the attachment, as shown in Figure 2. The means for 'rendering the date circle operative or inoperative for printing are clearly illustrated and described in the Commodore D. Ryan application for United States Letters Patent, Ser. No. 673,639, filedMay 31, 1933.

Attachments of the type which print postage and sign checks usually are provided with a control meter, as indicated at 142, which will act after a predetermined number of stamps or signatures have been printed to lock the attachment against further use until re-set. The control meter also functions to prevent the attachment driving clutch from being placed into action, which means will be later described.

Attachment clutch trip mechanism 143 An attachment clutch tripping lever 144 (Figs. 6, 7, 8 and 9) is pivotally mounted, as at 145, to a supporting plate 146, and at its extreme upper end is fabricated to form a horizontal engaging pad 147, against which the attachment clutch control lever 53 strikes to release the clutch band 51 from its driving pulley to thereby retain the clutch inactive.

The supporting plate 146 is resiliently mounted upon a pressed metal bracket 148, which is fastened to the inner side of the platform plate 33. The lower portion of the bracket is provided with a pair of vertically extending ears 149, transversely through4 which is mounted a resilient bushing 151, preferably made of rubber. The

lower end of the supporting plate 146 is shaped to a cylindrical form to nicely fit onto the resilient bushing 151. The upper end of the pressed metal bracket 148 is shaped to form a guide-way 152 (Figs. 1 and 6), while the upper end of the bracket plate 146 is provided with a horizontal flange 153, having a slot formed therein of such size as to nicely fit onto this bracket guide-way. This construction permits the clutch tripping lever 144 through its connection with the resilient mounting to yield slightly when impacted by the clutch control lever 53, and to thereby eliminate any destructive hammering of the apparatus which otherwise might be present.

The supporting plate 142 is provided with a resilient stop means in the form of an eccentric fiber disc 154, clamped to the plate by suitable screw means 155. The clutch tripping lever is yieldingly held against this stop means by the tension spring 156. The stop means is easily adjusted to retain the clutch tripping lever in a correct position to engage the end of clutch control lever 53. The stop means is adjusted by loosening the'screw means 155, turning the stop disc until due to its eccentricity a portion of its periphery engages the lever when held in its correct position, and then by tightening the screw the stop disc will be securely clamped in its adjusted position.

To throw the attachment clutch into driving engagement, it is only necessary to swing the tripping lever 144 in a clockwise direction, as

Aviewed in Fig. 7, until pad 147 thereof is moved from under the clutch control lever 53, whereupon this lever will act under the influence of spring 157 to expand the clutch band into driving engagement with the clutch pulley. i

From the above description, it will be appreciated that the attachment clutch is normally retained inactive.

Means are provided for swinging the tripping lever to place the attachment clutch into operation each time an envelope or other article is delivered to the attachment. This means may include a trigger 158 pivotally supported upon the upper end of spindle 159 in such a way as to permit the trigger to rock freely in a vertical plane, but any movement of the trigger in a horizontal plane will be transmitted to the spindle. The forward end 160 of the trigger (Fig. 6) is bent upwardly to intercept the path of travel of articles carried by the conveyor, while the rear end of the trigger which extends rearwardly of the spindle is provided with a series of notches, into any selected one of which one end of spring 161 may be engaged.

The spindle 159 is iournaled in bracket 162 (Figs. 6, 8 and 9), and the bracket, in turn, is fastened to the swing frame 163, which frame is pivoted by means of the friction screw 164 (Figs. 6, 7, 8 and 9) to the power plant base casting 27. The friction screw 164 gives the swing frame suillcient resistance to a turning movement, whereby during the normal operation of the machine it will positively remain in any previously adjusted position. The forward end of the swing frame is provided'with an upturned portion 165, having fastened thereto a cam plate 166 (Figs. 6, 8, 10. 11). The cam plate is provided with an opening 167, through which the trigger 158 passes.

This cam plate opening has an inclined surface 168 (Figs. 10 and 11), along which the trigger is pushed by an envelope moving into printing position. The trigger is yieldingly held in engagement with this Upper surface of the cam 173. The hook 172 is provided wi plate opening by the spring means 161. The movement -of the trigger acts to swing the attachment tripping lever 144 to throw the clutch into action by means yet to be described, and also due to the inclined cam surface is pressed down until it is freed from engagement with the envelope, whereupon the trigger is swung back to the end of the cam plate opening due to the action of spring 169 (Figs. 6, 8), one end of which is connected to the threaded stud 170 carried by the trigger spindle 159. Adjusting nuts-171 are provided to adjust the position of the spring with relation to the stud and thereby its action upon the trigger. As soon as the envelope is ejected from the machine, upon the completion of the printing operation, the trigger will be lifted to its initial position by spring means 161 to be engaged and again actuated by the next envelope (note Figs. 2 and 10).

A separable connection is formed between the trigger mechanism'and the attachment clutch tripping lever 144 by pivotally mounting a hook 172 (Figs. 6, 7, 8 and 9) to the extreme lower end of the clutch tripping lever, as by pivot pin a tooth 174, adapted to be engaged by thel ar 175, which projects rearwardly from the trigger spindle 159. The clutch tripping lever hook 172 is normally and yieldingly retained in the position in which it is shown in Figs. 6, 7, 8 and 9 by the spring means 176, and while in this position the tooth 174 thereof will lie in the plane of travel of the ltripping mechanism arm whereby when the tripping mechanism trigger 158 is actuated by an envelope feeding into printing position, the arm 175 thereof will be swung toward the left, as viewed in Fig. 7, to thereby through hook 172 swing the clutch tripping lever in a clockwise direction, as viewed in this same figure, to release the attachment clutch control lever 53 and thereby place the clutch into action.

Means are provided for lifting the tripping lever hook 172 clear of arm 175 during the cycle of operation of the clutch and to return the hook to its initial starting position upon the completion of the turning movement of the clutch. This means includes a link 177 having formed in its lower end a longitudinally directed slot 178 to provide a lost motion connection with the pin 179, which projects from the side face of the tripping lever hook 172, while at its upper end the link is pivotally connected to the cam lever 180, as by means of the cam roller pin 181. The cam lever 180 at one end is fastened to the conveyor clutch control shaft 182, while its other end is bifurcated to receive the cam roller 183 journaled upon the cam roller pin 181 previously referred to. An appropriately shaped cam 184 is fastened to the attachment clutch shaft 44, and the cam roller is yieldingly held engaged therewith by the spring means 185. When the clutch shaft is at rest, as shown in Fig. 7, the angular surface of the high point of the cam is in position to be engaged by the cam roller, thus depressing the cam lever 180 and link 177 to in turn permit the tripping lever hook 172 to be lowered to intercept the plane of travel of the tripping mechanism arm 175, but as soon as cam 184 is rotated its high point is turned out from under the cam roller, whereupon the spring means 185 acts to lift the cam lever until the roller engages the low concentric portion of the cam. This motion of the cam lever acts to lift link 177 and thereby the tripping lever hook clear of the plane of travel of the tripping mechanism arm, whereby even though the trigger be retained in its actuated position the connection between it and the clutch tripping lever will be positively broken, thus preventing the clutch from making more than one cycle for each actuation of the trigger. It will be understood that as soon as the hook is lifted clear of the tripping mechanism arm that the tripping lever 144 will be returned to its initial position against stop 154, due to the action of its spring means 156, whereby upon the completion of a single revolution of the clutch, lever 144 will be waiting in position to be engaged by the clutch control lever 53 and thus cause a positive releasing and stopping of the clutch.

The upwardly directed force of the cam roller 183 acting against the angular portion of the high point of the cam tends to cause the cam together with shaft 44 to rotate in a clockwise direction, as shownin Figure 7, and to thereby hold the clutch control lever 53 in clutch releasing engagement with the tripping lever 144.

This cam, roller and lever arrangement is also utilized to control the action of the conveyor driving clutch, as will be later described.

Stop means As previously stated, certain of the attachment devices may be equipped with'a control meter Ifor locking the attachment against further use when a predetermined amount of postage has been printed. Thel control meter should be also arranged to act through a suitable locking system to disconnect the trigger mechanism from the clutch tripping lever to prevent the` attachment clutch from being thrown into action when the control meter has functioned to lock the attachment and to thereby prevent injury to either the power plant or attachment. l

For' this purpose the stop means is provided and may includea lifting finger 186 (Figs. 6, 7, 8 and 9) having its free` end arranged to underlie the outstanding pin 187 carried by the side face of the tripping lever hook 172, while its opposite end is fixed to a crank shaft 188 suitably journaled upon the power plant. The crank arm 189 formed upon the forward end of the crank shaft is pivotally connected to the lower end of a stop button 190 having a head 191. The stop button is slidably mounted in a vertical hole 192, drilled through the attachment platform and the hole is 'counterbored at its upper end to receive the stop button head 191. A tortional spring 193 is mounted on crank shaft 188 and is arranged to yieldingly urge the crankshaft in the direction necessary for the crank arm thereof to lift the stop button above the door of the attachment platform. This same movement will also swing the finger 186 in a clockwise direction, as viewed in Fig. 7, to. engage pin 187 and thereby lift the tripping lever hook 172 clear of the plane of travel of the tripping mechanism arm 175, and in this way to disconnect the attachment clutch tripping `mechanism so that even though the trigger thereof should be actuated the clutch could not be thrown into operation.

'I'he head 191 of the stop button is engaged by the attachment locking system which normally holds the button depressed sufficiently to swing the stop finger 186 to permit the tripping lever hook 172 to again connect with the tripping mechanism arm and to remain in this position as long as the attachment locking system has not functioned to lock the attachment. When the attachment locking system does function to lock the attachment against further use it will also simultaneously act to release the stop button, which due to spring 193 will be raised until the tripping lever hook 172 is disconnected, as previously explained. Upon resetting the attachment control meter, the stop button will be depressed to again connect the tripping mechanism.

vA second disconnecting means for the tripping mechanism Unless the attachment is securely locked in position on the power plant platform, the attachment clutch tripping mechanism will be held disconnected and in this way prevent possible injury to the attachment and power plant driving mechanisms.

This second disconnecting means may include a finger 194 which is similar to finger 186 and, like finger 186, underlies the horizontal pin 187 of the tripping lever hook 172. The rear end of nger 194 is fastened to one end of sleeve 195 which is journaled upon the crank shaft 188 (Figs. 6, 7, 8 and 9). A cam lever 196 fastened to the other end of this sleeve is yieldingly held in contact with the cam surface 197 of the reciprocatory cam 198 by a torsional spring 199 (Figs. 6 and 9). With the reciprocatory cam positioned as illustrated in Figs. 6 and 9, wherein the cam lever engages the low surface of the cam, the finger 194 will be held clear of the tripping lever hook pin 187 but when the reciprocating cam is moved rearwardly the free end of the cam lever will ride up onto the high level of the cam surface. This movement of the cam lever will rotate sleeve 195 and to thereby swing the free end of nger 194 upwardly into engagement with pin 187 and thus lift the tripping lever hook 172 clear of the tripping arm.

The end 200 of the reciprocating cam 198 is pivotally connected to the attachment locking handle 137 as at 201. These parts are so proportioned that as long as the attachment lock remains in its open position the tripping mechanism will remain disconnected, but upon the movement of the attachment lock into locking position the tripping means will be automatically reconnected.

It is desirable to automatically depress the stop button190 whenever the attachment-positioning lock is swung to its open position and this result is easily accomplished by providing the reciprocating cam 198 with an elongated slot 202 through which the cam button extends and by forming a second cam surface 203 on the Vreciprocating cam at a point located to bring this second cam surface into engagement with Athe end of the crank arm 189 and to thus depress y the crank arm and thereby the stop button just as the lock reaches its open position. The stop button will be automatically released when the lock is returned to its locking position,

.Conveyor clutch control mechanism disengaged when the attachment clutch is thrown into action. Y

rT'he conveyor clutch .control mechanism includes the cam level` 180 arranged to be actuated bythe attachment shaft cam 184 in the manner previously described whereby during the period of rest of the attachment clutch the cam lever will vbe retained depressed and yet during the operating cycle of the attachment clutch the cam lever is held raised by the action of its spring 185. This oscillatory motion of the cam lever is made use of to engage and disengage the conveyor driving clutch.

'I'he cam lever 180 is fastened onto one end of the conveyor clutch control shaft 182, which shaft is appropriately journaled on the power plant and has fastened thereto adjacent its opposite end the clutch and brake actuating lever 204 (Figs. 3, 4 and 5). A clutch wheel lever 205 is provided with a bifurcated hub which is journaled upon shaft 182 in such a way as to straddle lever 204, and to which the lever 205 is yieldingly connected. The yieldable connection which is formed between levers 204 and 205 includes an upwardly standing rod 206 fastened at its lower end to lever 205, passing freely through the drilled hole 206 of lever 204 threaded at its upper end to receive adjusting nuts 208. A compression spring 209 acts between the adjusting nuts 208 and a rod encircling washer 210, which is pressed against the top surface of lever 204 by the action of the spring. To retain lever 205 correctly positioned from lever 204, a set screw 211 is screw threaded through lever 204 until its lower end engages lever 205 to act as a stop means. The set screw may be locked in its adjusted position by a lock nut or other suitable means.

The rubber tired idler wheel 62 is operatively suspended from lever 205 by a pair of links 212, the upper ends of which are pivotally connected to the lever by a pivot pin 213 while their lower ends carry the idler wheel axle 214 on which and between the links is journaled the idler wheel.

When the cam lever 180 is depressed, shaft 182 will be rotated in a counterclockwise direction, as viewed in Figs. 4 and 5, to lift the lever 204 and thereby lever 205 to in turn lift the idler wheel 62 into operative engagement with the peripheries of wheels 59 and 60. The spring connection between the levers will yield after the idler wheel has firmlyv engaged the other two Wheels. When the cam lever 180 is raised, shaft 182 will be rotated in the opposite direction to swing levers 204 and 205 downwardly to thereby move the idler wheel 62 clear of wheels 59 and '60.

A brake shoe 215 is pivotally mounted onto the front wall 35 as bypivot pin 216 and a torsional spring 217 is provided to yieldingly urge the shoe free from engagement withl the periphery of the conveyor clutch driven wheel 60. The brake shoe is thrust into braking engagement with wheel 60 by the set screw 218 screw threaded through the free end of lever 204. By this arrangement the brake is applied each time and as long as the conveyor clutch is released to stop the conveyor and to hcld it stopped during the actuation of the attachment.

Hand-tripping mechanism In some instances it isof considerable importance to be able to hand feed envelopes to the attachment and to thereafter manually trip the attachment into operation. It will be understood when hand feeding envelopes to the attachment that the conveyor truck 80 will be removed from the machine in the manner previously described and that the tripping mechanism trigger will be retracted in a manner later to be described.

The hand tripping mechanism for the attachment clutch acts upon the tripping arm of the automatic tripping mechanism, whereby the clutch may be thrown into engagement when the tripping lever hook 172 is in the plane of travel cf this arm. In other words, should the locking system in the attachment function through the stop mechanism to lift the tripping lever hook 'clear of tripping arm 175, then it would be impossible to trip the clutch into action by the hand tripping mechanism.

The hand tripping mechanism may include a tripping link 220 having an enclosed slot 221 4formed in cne end by means of which this end of the link is slidingly supported upon a suitable screw 222 (Figs. 1 and 7) while the other end of the link is pivotally connected to the lever 223, as by means of pin 224. Link 226 intermediate its ends is provided with a downwardly extending tongue 225 adapted to engage and actuate the tripping arm 175 when the link is shifted to the left, as viewed in Fig. 7, to trip the attachment clutch into operation, providing the hook 172 has not previously been lifted clear of the path of travel of the tripping arm.

The lever 223 is fastened to one end of shaft 226 and it is upon the forward end of this shaft that the hand tripping lever 26 is fastened. As may be observed in the several figures of the drawings, the hand tripping lever 26 is placed in front of the machine and is in a convenient position to be actuated.

Automatic control means for the conveyor and hand trip mechanisms When the machine is set up to print postage indicia upon over Weight mail or for other objects to be hand fed into printing position in the attachment, the feed conveyor truck will be removed to enable the articles to be conveniently presented to the attachment. Of course, it is necessary to lift the truck holding means 95, as by means of handle 99, to remove the truck from its operative position on the conveyor. A locking means may be provided for retaining the holder in its raised truck releasing position and during this time it is important that the conveyor driving clutch be retained inactive and therefore it is one of the features of this invention to provide means connected with the holding. means which will act to disconnect the conveyor clutch whenever the holder is raised to release the truck and which will act to reestablish the conveyor drive when the holder is returned to its truck engaging position.

The locking means 227 for the holder may include a pair of rearwardly extending lever arms 227 and 228 formed on the levers 96 and 97, respectively, and interconnected at their extreme outer ends by a cross bar 229. A cam link 230 at the upper end is pivotally mounted upon the cross bar intermediate its ends, while the lower end of the link is provided with a cam way pin 231 (Figs. 12, 13 and 14). Mounted upon the power plant base is a cam plate 232 having a more or less distorted heart shaped cam way 233 around which the cam lever pin 231 is adapted to play. When the truck holder 95 is in holding engagement with the conveyor truck 80, the cam lever pin 231 will lie opposite the side 234 of the cam way as is clearly illustrated in full lines in Fig. 12. In this same ligure the holder is illustrated inbreken lines in its elevated truck releasing position and when so elevated the cam lever pin 231 will lodge in the reex point 235 of the cam way. When pin 231 lodges in the reilexpoint, the cam lever is prevented from moving upwardly and thus the holder is locked in its raised position. To release the holder from this locking action, it must rst be lifted in order that pin 231 will continue its travel around the cam way to the other side 236 thereof, whereupon the holder may be lowered into engagement with the truck. While the holder is being lowered the cam pin will travel along side 236 until shortly before the holder engages the truck and the pin will swing around the high point 237 of the cam way and will come to rest at its initial starting point.

To assist the cam pin in )its course around the cam way, a second cam plate 238 is mounted adjacent the first cam plate 232 and it is between these two plates that the free end of the cam lever operates. The cam lever may be provided with a second cam pin 239 which is adapted to traverse the cam surface 240 of the second cam plate to assist the first cam pin 231 in its travel from the reflex point to the side 236 of the cam way and again to traverse the cam surface 241 of the same plate to assist in guiding the first cam pin around the high point 237 of cam way.

A flat spring 242 may be mounted upon cam plate 232 and arranged t0 project between the two cam plates for dampening the tendency of the -free end of the cam lever to swing and thus to insure a more certain and positive action of the holder lock.

The truck holder 95 is provided with means for disengaging the conveyor driving clutch 58 each time the 'holder is lifted free from the truck. This means may include providing the holder with a link 243 (Figs. 3 and 12) having one end journaled upon the holder shaft 98 and its opposite end pivotally connected to the cross bar 229. Pivotally connected to link 243 intermediate its ends is a clutch disengaging pin 244. The free end of pin 244 passes loosely through a suitable hole 245 drilled through the conveyor clutch lever 204 which acts as a guide means for the pin. When the holder is lifted, to free the truck, the clutch disengaging pin 244 will engage and depress the clutch wheel lever 205 and thereby push the clutch wheel 62 out of its normal driving enu gagement with wheels 59 and 60, and thereby disconnect the conveyor driving means. When the holder is returned to its original truck holding position, pin 244 will be lifted to free the clutch wheel lever 205, whereupon the clutch wheel 62 will be again brought into driving engagement with the clutch driving wheels.

By this arrangement, each time the holder is lifted to free the truck the conveyor driving mechanism is automatically disengaged and re-established when the holder is returned to its original position.

' The action of the truck-holding means is also made use of to contra the attachment dutch hand tripping mechanism. When the holder is in engagement with the truck, it acts to render the hand tripping mechanism inoperative, and when raised acts to release the said mechanism. 'I'his means for controlling the hand-tripping-mechanism may include a stop pin 246 (Figs. 1 and 3), one end of which slidably projects through plate 33. When the stop pin 246 is projected, as shown in Figs. l, 3 and 7, it intercepts the path of travel of the end 247 of the hand-tripping link 220 (Figs. 7, 8 and 9) and thus prevents this link from being actuated sufficiently to bring about the tripping of the attachment clutch into action.

'Ihe stop pin 246 is operatively connected to and actuated by the truck-holder 95. For this purpose, the rear endof the stop pin is pivotally connected to the arm 248 of the bell crank lever 249. The bell crank lever is pivotally supported on platel 32 by a suitable screw means 250, While the forwardly extending arm 251 of the bell crank lever is pivotally connected to the lower end of a link 252, which link is pivotally connected at its upper end to the cross-bar 229 of the truck-holding mechanism.

As may be noted from Fig. 7, the stop pin will be retained in position to prevent the handtripping mechanism from being actuated as long as the truck holding means is in engagement with the conveyor truck, but through the mechanism just described the end of the stop pin will be withdrawn from the path of travel of the hand-tripping mechanism link when the holder is raised to its elevated position, thus freeing the handtripping mechanism for actuation.

Some pieces of mail matter may require a greater value of postage to be printed thereon than can be printed in a single operation by any of the postage printing attachments at hand. These postage printing attachments are com- Means ,for disconnecting the attachment clutch trigger Sometimes it is desirable to adjust the machine for automatically sealing envelopes without operating the attachment. To accomplish this adjustment, it is only necessary to retract trigger 160 from the path of travel of the envelopes. The trigger retracting means is illustrated most clearly in Figs. 10 and 11, and includes a lever'26l pivoted as at 262 and provided with a spring washer 263 for yeldingly retaining the lever in any position to which it may be set. The lever is provided with a .bent hand piece 284 for convenience in swinging it to or from engagement with the trigger.

The normal position of lever 261 is shown in Fig. l0, and in Fig. 11 it is shown holding trigger 160 depressed and out of the path of travel of the envelopes. In this position, the lever engages a stop pin 265.

Operation monly called postage meters or meters, and either v of these terms may be used herein to designate such an attachment.

For example, should the highest denomination printable bythe meter be 3 and a particular lot of mail required 6 postage, then this mail could be run through the machine twice in order to print two 3 impressions thereon. It will be appreciated, however, that unless the trigger 160 l of the attachment clutch tripping mechanism was properly adjusted for each of the two runs of this particular mail matter that both impressions would be printed upon substantially the same spot on each envelope. Therefore, to enable the machine to automatically run mail matter through twice, it is necessary to provide means for shifting the position of trigger 160 for each run, whereby the two impressions will be placed side by side.

For this purpose, the tripping mechanism swing frame 163 (Figs. 6, 8 and 9) may be provided with a flanged piece 253, having one upwardly directed flange 254 and one downwardly directed flange 255.

A stop screw 256 is adjustably screw-threaded through flange 254 and adjusted to engage the side frame of the attachment platform when the trigger 160 is properly positioned for printing the first impression upon the mail matter. It might be stated that this is the normal position of these parts.

A similar stop screw 257 is adjustably screwthreaded through flange 255 and adjusted to Vengage the opposite side of the attachment platform when the trigger frame 163 is swung to position the trigger 160 for locating the second impression upon the mail matter. To swing frame 163, a rod 258 may be fastened to the swing frame.

and provided with a handle 259, which may project beyond the side face of the machine to be in convenient reach of the attendant.

Adjusting the swing frame 163 to one position or the other does not materially affect the attachment clutch tripping means because the center about which the swing frame turns is located directly below and in line with the engaging point of tripping arm 175 with the tripping lever hook 172. l

When running mail matter upon which there are to be placed two impressions, the date circle will only be printed once. This is taken care of by shifting the little knob 141 to one of the two positions, as indicated upon the front In order to use the machine most emciently, the attendant should segregate the mail matter according to the amount of postage required and should further separate all of the envelopes which had been previously sealed from those remaining to be sealed.

The attendant may place the machine into operation by turning on the driving motor 39 by means of the snap switch 266.

'Ihe machine, as illustrated in the drawings, is adjusted to automatically feed, seal, and print 2 postage indicia. For this adjustment of the machine the attendant may now keep the envelope hopper 22 fllled with the`unsealed 2 mail until it has all been sealed and stamped. Next, the 2 sealed mail may be run through the machine, but before doing so the capillary moistening tube 120 should be turned to its inoperative position by means of the moistening tube handle 122.

After all of the 2 mail matter has been printed, the 2 meter may be replaced by a 3 meter and the machine operated as previously described until all of the 3 mail has been treated, whereupon meters of other denominations may be in turn placed in the machine until all of the mail matter has been stamped.

However, should the attendant have available only a. 2 meter and a 3 meter, and there remained considerable mail matter requiring 5 and 6 postage, lt would be an easy matter to first run all of this mail through the machine with the 3 meter, having rst actuated the knob 141 to its o position, as illustrated in Fig. 2, to thereby prevent the date circle from being printed.

After all of this 5 and 6 mail matter has been run once through the machine, it should next be adjusted for the second run of the 6 mail by returning the date circle knob to its on position and also by swinging the attachment clutch tripping trigger 160 to advance its tripping position by means of handle 259, as previously described, whereby the second impression will be printed adjacent the rst impression. Now the 6 mail may be run to receive the second 3 impression. For the second run of the 5 mail the 2 meter should be replaced upon the machine, whereby this mail will receive a 2 impression alongside of the first 3 impression.

From the above description, it will be appreciated that when only two lmeters are available that 2c, 3c, 5 and 6 mail maybe easily and quickly disposed of.

There are usually a number of relatively heavy pieces of mail matter, which due to their weight require considerable postage, and these heavy pieces are usually too bulky to be automatically fed to the meter. This bulky overweight mail is more conveniently hand-fed into the printing position in the meter; and it is for this purpose that the conveyor truck is arranged so that it may be easily removed.

To remove the truck, the holding means 95 may be lifted, which operation not only releases the truck for removal but also acts to disengage the conveyor clutch and free the hand tripping mechanism. As the holder is locked in its elevated position, the conveyor clutchis retained disengaged, while the hand-tripping mechanism is retained in its released condition.` Next, the automatic attachment clutch tripping trigger 160 may be retracted and held retracted by the lever 261. With the conveyor truck and trigger 160 out of the way, envelopes or other matter may be manually fed to the printing position in the meter, and by adjusting the knob 141 to its off position any number of impressions may be printed upon the letter in order to print thereon the necessary value of postage. In order to nicely space each impression, a sight 268 is mounted upon the side of the meter, and by locating the inner edge of the preceding imprint directly below the notch of the sight the indicia printed upon the next printing cycle of the meter will be printed in proper relation to the sighted indicia. Of course, when the last indicia is to be printed, the knob 141 should be moved to its on position so as to print with this indicia the date circle. When the piece of mail matter has been placed in printing position, the meter may be caused to operate through one complete cycle by merely pressing upon the hand trip lever 26. It is necessary to press the hand trip lever each time the machine is to be operated.

When the machine is adjusted as above described, it may be' used for printing the necessary postage upon air-mail letters, or for printing postage on sticker tape, which thereafter may be stuck directly upon parcel post packages.

Should the amount of postage, having previously been set up in the meter by an authorized post-office oicial, become exhausted the locking system within the meter will function to lock the meter, and by the means previously described will also act to render the attachment clutch tripping mechanism inoperative to place the clutch in driving engagement until the meter has been re-set, or until the meter has been replaced by another.

When hand-feeding mail matter to the meter, the flaps of this mail may be moistened by drawing them across the hand moistener 126 in the manner previously described.

From the above description, it will be appreciated that the machine has a Wide range of utility,

israpid and accurate in its operation, and of great value to a firm or user indispatching mail.

While I have illustrated a preferred form of my invention, it is to be understood that the foregoing description is for illustrating purposes only, and I donot desire to be limited by any of the details shown or described, except as dened in the appended claims.

I claim:

1. In a power plant, a driving mechanism, an attachment clutch normally retained inactive, a trip mechanism manually operable for throwing mesme the attachment clutch vinto action for driving an attachment, an article feeding conveyor operable by the driving mechanism for serially feeding articles to the attachment, a truck for the conveyor, a holding means for retaining the truck inoperative position on the conveyor, and a control means operatively associated with the holding means for rendering the trip mechanism inoperative While the holding means is acting on said truck and for automatically releasing said trip mechanism when the holding means is freed from the truck.

2. In a power plant, a driving mechanism, an attachment clutch normally retained inactive, a trip mechanism manually operable for throwing the attachment clutch into action for driving an attachment, an article feeding conveyor operable by the driving mechanism for serially feeding articles to the attachment, a truck for the conveyor, and a control means associated with the truck to render the trip mechanism inoperative while the truck is in its operative position on the conveyor and for automatically releasing the trip mechanism when the truck is shifted from its operative position on the conveyor.

3. In a power plant, a driving mechanism, an article feeding conveyor, a conveyor clutch normally active for connecting the conveyor with the driving mechanism, a truck for the conveyor, a holding means, for retaining the truck in position on the conveyor, and a conveyor clutch control means operatively associated with the truck holding means for rendering the conveyor clutch inactive to drive the conveyor when the holder is freed from the truck.

4. In a power plant, a driving mechanism, an article feeding conveyor, a conveyor clutch normally active for connecting the conveyor with the driving mechanism, a truck for the conveyor, and a conveyor clutch control means associated with the truck for rendering the conveyor clutch inactive to drive the conveyor when the' truck is shifted from its operative position on the conveyor.

5. In a power plant, a driving mechanism, an attachment clutch normally retained inactive, a

trip mechanism manually operable for throwing the attachment clutch into operation for driving an attachment, an article feeding conveyor operable for serially feeding articles to the attachment, a conveyor clutch normally active for connecting the conveyor with the driving mechanism',- a truck for the conveyor, a holding means for retaining the truck in position on the conveyor, a first control means operatively associated with the holding means for retaining the trip mechanism inoperative when the holding means is acting on said truck and for automatically releasing said trip mechanism when said holding means is freed from the truck, and a second control means operatively associated with the truck holding means for rendering the conveyor clutch inactive to drive the conveyor when the holder is freed from the truck.

6. In a power plant, a driving mechanism, an attachment clutch normally retained inactive, a trip mechanism manually operable for throwing the attachment clutch into operation for driving an attachment, an 'article feeding conveyor operable for serially feeding articles to the attachment, a conveyor clutch normally active for connecting the conveyor with the driving mechanism, a truck for the conveyor movable to or from operative position on the conveyor, and a control means associated with the truck and operable when the truck is in its operative position on the conveyor for rendering the trip mechanism inoperative and the conveyor clutch active when the truck is moved from the conveyor to release the trip mechanism and to shift the conveyor clutch into its inactive position.

I 7. In a power plant, an article feeding conveyor, a truck removably mounted thereon, an active holding means for retaining the truck in operative position on the conveyor, and a releasable locking means for locking the holding means free of the truck when the truck is to be removed from the conveyor.

8. In a power plant, a driving mechanism, an attachment clutch normally retained inactive, a trip mechanism manually operable for throwing the attachment clutch into action for driving an attachment, an article feeding conveyor operable by the driving mechanism for serially feeding articles to the attachment, a truck for the conveyor, an active holding means for retaining the truck in operative position on the conveyor, a control means operatively associated with the holding means for rendering the trip mechanism inoperative while the holding means is acting on the truck and for automatically releasing the trip mechanism when the holding means is actuated free of the truck, and a releasable locking means for locking the holding means in its actuated position for maintaining the trip mechanism released.

9. In a power plant, a driving mechanism, an article feeding conveyor, a conveyor clutch normally active for connecting the ,conveyor `with the driving mechanism, a truck for the conveyor, an `a'ctiveliolding means for retaining the truck in position on the conveyor, a conveyor clutch control means operatively associated with the truck holding means for rendering the conveyor clutch inactive to drive the conveyor when the holder is actuated free of the truck, and a releasable locking means for locking the holding means in its actuated position for maintaining the conveyor inactive.

10. In a power plant, a driving mechanism, an attachment clutch normally retained inactive, a trip mechanism manually operable for throwing the attachment clutch into operation for driving an appropriate attachment, an article feeding conveyor operable for serially feeding articles to the attachment, a conveyor clutch normally active for connecting the conveyor with the driving mechanism, a truck for the conveyor, an active holding means for retaining the truck in position on the conveyor, a control means associated with the holding means and operable when the holder is in position to retain the truck on the conveyor for rendering the trip mechanism inoperative and when the holder is actuated free of the truck for releasing the trip mechanism and for rendering the conveyor clutch inactive, and a releasable locking means for locking the holder in its actuated position for maintaining the trip mechanism operative and the conveyor clutch inactive.

1l. In a power plant, a driving mechanism, an attachment clutch normally retained inactive, a trip mechanism manually operable for throwing the attachment clutch into action for driving an appropriate attachment, an article feeding conveyor operable by the driving mechanism for serially feeding articles to the attachment, a truck for the conveyor, an active holding means for retaining the `truck in operative A position,

vspring means associated with the holding means for urging the truck into yielding engagement with theconveyor, and a control means operatively associated with the holding means for rendering the trip mechanism inoperative while the holding means is acting on the truck and for automatically releasing said trip when the holding means'is lifted free of the truck.

l2. In a power plant, a driving mechanism, an article feeding conveyor, a conveyor clutch normally active for connecting the conveyor with the driving mechanism, a truck for the conveyor, an active holding means for retaining the truck in operative position, spring means associated with the holding means for urging the truck into yielding engagement with the conveyor, and a conveyor clutch control means operatively associated with the truck holding means for rendering the conveyor clutch inactive to drive the conveyor when the holder is lifted free of the truck.

13. In a power plant, a driving mechanism, an attachment clutch normally retained inactive, a trip mechanism manually operable for throwing the attachment clutch into operation for driving an appropriate attachment, an article feeding conveyor operable for serially feeding articles to the attachment, a conveyor clutch means normally active for connecting the conveyor with the driving mechanism, a truck for the conveyor, an active holding means for retaining the truck in operative position, spring means associated with the holding means for urging the truck into yielding engagement with the conveyor, and a control means associated with the holding means and operable when the holder is in position to retain the truck on the conveyor for rendering the trip mechanism inoperative and when the holder is lifted free of the truck for releasing the Cil trip mechanism and for rendering the conveyor y clutch inactive.

14. In a power plant, a driving mechanism, an attachment clutch means normally retained inactive, a trip mechanism manually operable for throwing the attachment clutch into action for driving an appropriate attachment, an article feeding conveyor operable by the driving mechanism for serially feeding articles to the attachment, a truck for the conveyor, an active holding means for retaining the truck in operative position, spring means associated with the holding means for urging the truck into yielding engagement with the conveyor, a control means operatively associated with the holding means for rendering the trip mechanism inoperative while the holder is in action on the truck and for automatically releasing the trip mechanism when the holder is lifted clear of the truck, and a releasable locking means for locking the holder in its lifted position against the action of the spring means for maintaining the trip mechanism released.

15. In a power plant, a driving mechanism, an article feeding conveyor, a conveyor clutch normally active for connecting the conveyor with the driving mechanism, a truck for the conveyor, an active holding means for retaining the truck in operative position, spring means associated with the holding means for urging the truck into yielding engagement with the conveyor, a conveyor clutch control means operatively associated with the truck holding means for rendering the conveyor clutch inactive to drive the concri 16. In a power plant, a driving mechanism, an attachment clutch normally retained inactive, a trip mechanism normally operable for throwing the attachment clutch into operation for driving an appropriate attachment, an article feeding conveyor operable for serially feeding articles to the attachment, a conveyor clutch means normally active for connecting the conveyor with the driving mechanism, a truck for the conveyor, an active holding means for retaining the truck in operative position, spring means associated with the holding means for urging the truck into yielding engagement with the conveyor, a control means associated with the holding means and operable when the holder is in position to retain the truck on the conveyor for rendering the trip mechanism inoperative and when the holder is lifted free of the truck for releasing the trip mechanism and rendering the conveyor clutch inactive, and a releasable locking means for locking the holder in its lifted position against the action of the` spring means for maintaining the trip mechanism active and the conveyor inactive.

17. In a power plant, a feed conveyor, a truck for the'conveyor, an active holding means arranged to yieldingly retain the truck on the conveyor, and a locking means automatically operable when the holder is lifted free of the truck for locking the holder in its liftedposition and further automatically operable for releasing the holder for movement to its truck engaging position by a second lifting motion of the holder prior to the lowering motion thereof.

18. In a power plant, a feed conveyor, a truck for the conveyor, an active holding means arranged toretain the truck on the conveyor, a spring means associated with the holder and arranged to urge the truck into yielding engagement with the conveyor, a latch link having one end pivotally connected to the holding means, a stationary cam plate having a distorted heartshaped cam-Way, a cam-way follower carried by the free end of the link, and said cam-way being arranged to locate the follower adjacent the same side thereof whenever the holder is acting on the truck and to direct the follower into its reflex point during the lifting motion of the holder to thereby latch the holder in its elevated truck releasing position against the action of the spring means, and finally upon again lifting the holder a short distance just prior to lowering it into engagement with the truck for directing the follower to the other side face thereof along which the follower will be guided until passing the high point of the cam-way and thence to guide the follower to its original starting point.

19. In a power plant, a feed conveyor, a truck v for the conveyor, an active holding means arranged to retain the truck on the conveyor, a spring means associated with the holder and arranged to urge the truck into yielding engagement with the conveyor, a latch link having one end pivotally connected to the holding means, a stationary cam plate having a distorted heartshaped cam-way, a cam-way follower carried by the free end of the link, said cam-way being arranged to ,locate the follower adjacent the same side thereof whenever the holder is acting on the truck and to direct the follower into its reflex point during the lifting motion of the holder to thereby latch the holder in its elevated truck releasing position against the action of the spring means and finally upon again lifting the holder a short distance just prior to lowering it into engagement with the truck for directing the follower to the other side face thereof along which the follower will be guided until passing the high point of the cam-way and thence to guide the follower to its original starting position, and a spring means positioned adjacent the reflex point of the camway for dampening the action of the free end of the latch lever.

20. In a power plant, a feed conveyor, a truck for the conveyor, an active holding means arranged to retain the truck on the conveyor, a spring means associated with the holder and arranged to urge the truck into yielding engagement with the conveyor, a latch link having one end pivotally connected to the holding means, a stationary cam plate having a distorted heartshaped cam-way, a cam-Way follower carried by the free end of the link, said cam-way being arranged to locate the follower adjacent the same side thereof whenever the holder is acting on the truck and to direct the follower into its reflex point during the lifting motion ofthe holder to thereby latch the holder in its elevated truck releasing position against the actionof the spring means and finally upon again lifting the holder a short distance prior to lowering it into engagement with the truck to direct the follower to the other side face thereof along which the follower will be guided until passing the high point of the cam-way and thence to guide the follower to its original starting point, a second cam plate mounted adjacent the stationary cam plate, and a second cam follower carried by the free end of the latch link arranged for engagement with the cam surfaces of the second cam plate during the travel of the first follower past the reflex and high points of the first cam-way.

21. In a power plant, a feed conveyor, a truck for the conveyor, an active holding means arranged to retain the truck on the conveyor, a spring means associated with the holder and arranged to urge the truck into yielding engagement with the conveyor, a latch link having one end pivotally connected to the holding means, a stationary cam plate having a distorted heart-shaped cam-Way, a cam-way follower carried by the free end of the link, said cam-way being arranged to locate the follower adjacent the same side thereof whenever the holder is acting on the truck and to direct the follower into its reflex point during the lifting motion of the holder to thereby latch the holder in its elevated truck releasing position against the action of the spring means and finally upon again lifting the holder a short distance just prior to lowering it into engagement with the truck for directing the follower to the other side face thereof along which the follower will be guided until passing the high point of the cam-way and thence to guide 'the follower to its original starting position, a spring means positioned adjacent the reiiex point of the cam-way for dampening the action of the free end of the latch lever, a second cam plate mounted adjacent the stationary cam plate, and a second cam follower carried by the free end of the latch link arranged for engagement with the cam surfaces of the second cam plate during the travel of the first follower past the reex and high points of the first cam-way.

22. In a power plant, a driving mechanism, an attachment for the power' plant, means for locking the attachment in its operative position: on the power plant, a normally inactive clutch means operable for connecting the drive means of the attachment with the driving mechanism, a clutch control mechanism operable for tripping the attachment clutch into action, and means ted with the locking means for rendering the clutch control mechanism inoperative for tripping the clutch into action when said locking means is actuated to unlock the attachment from the power plant.

23. In a power plant, a driving mechanism, an attachment for the power plant, a normallyvinactive clutch means operable for connecting thev drive means of the attachment with saidl driving mechanism, a clutch control mechanism operable for placing the attachment clutch into action, said attachment having a locking system therein operable for locking it against further use after running for a predetermined extent, and a stop means operable by the attachment locking system for rendering the clutch control mechanism inoperable for placing the clutch in action when the locking system functions tclock the attachment.

24. In a power plant, a drivingmechanism, an attachment mounted on the power plant, means for locking the attachment in place thereon, a normally inactive clutch means operable for connecting the drive means of the attachment with said driving mechanism, a clutch control mechanism operable for placing the attachment clutch into action, said attachment having a locking system therein operable for loc-king it against` further use after having run for a predetermined extent, a stop means operatively responsive to the attachment locking system for rendering the clutch control m inoperable for placing the clutch in action when the attachment locking system functions to lock the attachment, and means associated with the locking means operable upon the actuation of said locking means to unlock the attachment from the power plant for rendering the clutch control mechanism inoperative for tripping the clutch into action and alsooperable for actuating the stop means torelease the clutch control mechanism.

25. In a power plant, a driving mechanism, a conveyor operatively connected thereto, a normally inactive attachment clutch associated with the driving mechanism, a clutch control mechanism arranged to be actuated by articles carried by the conveyor for placing the attachment clutch into operation, and means manually 'operable for shifting the clutch control mechanism to one or more different actuating positions-along the conveyor. v

26. In a power plant, a driving mechanism, a conveyor operatively connected thereto, a normally inactive attachment clutch associated with the driving mechanism, a clutch control mechanism arranged to be actuated by articles carried by the conveyor for placing the attachment clutch into operation, and meansv manually operable for moving the article engaging portion of the clutch control mechanism clear of articles carried by the conveyor.

JOHN Q. FINFROCK. 

